Birds Befriended Program

Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility

Photo by Jim Misunas Great Bend TribuneInmates at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility are rewarded for their good conduct by being permitted to participate in the Birds Befriended Prison Parrot Program started in 2006 by LCMHF Warden Karen Rohling with the help of Mike Cargill from Brit Spaugh Zoo. Current LCMHF inmates and their parrots are (from left) Steven Gallegos and Macaw Rudy; Roger Davison and Cocatoo Monty; Daniel Ray and Amazon Paco; Terry Ross and Macaw Valentino. Inmates report the birds teach them responsibility and the program encourages them to follow the rules or their contact with the birds is taken away. A complete story on Birds Befriended will be published Aug, 16.